The Sea of Red

         Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln greets folks as they head south into downtown.  The large cement walls on the west side of the Stadium stand triumphantly over the bridges and streets which wind confoundingly around the northern reaches of downtown Lincoln.  The tall cement walls are segmented by large square pillars.  In between the two central pillars the internal organs of the stadium are revealed through three tall, narrow, cathedral like windows.  Across the rest of the stone grey exterior walls of the prominent west side of the stadium other smaller windows brighten the grey demeanor of the stadium.  

As one approaches this monolithic structure on a Saturday in fall the grey, cold of the stadium bursts to life with tens of thousands of loyal fans.  The grey exterior of the building gets lost behind the bright red jerseys and T-shirts that can be seen in all directions.  The smoke from the many grills at surrounding tailgates floats in the air and causes immediate hunger.  When game-time approaches the thud of drums and call of brass instruments can be heard roaring down stadium drive.  This is the band’s way of reminding fans that it is time to head into the stadium to cheer for the Huskers as they make their way onto the field.

Once you have fought your way through the crowd and enter the gates of the stadium it’s as if you can feel the whole behemoth moving under the weight of some eighty-five thousand fans.  The lobby on the west stadium is bright and open because of the huge windows.  The setup is rather simple with bathrooms and concessions stands strewn across the lobby.  As you grab a five dollar stadium chair and head to your section the anticipation peaks as one pokes their head out of the tunnel and sees the sea of red in all its glory.  The stadium is huge and it is always packed, it has been sold out every game for fifty years.  The field is immaculate and the “Jumbotrons” are visible in all directions.  The railings are lined with names of players who have achieved greatness at Nebraska and with the numbers from years when the Huskers won titles of some kind.  As the game commences you lose track of the glory that is Memorial stadium and become engulfed in the game, cheering, and analyzing every play.  The game may be bigger than any stadium but this place is special and is part of why the Nebraska Cornhuskers regardless of their record or players have a mythical status for the small population of Nebraska.